Outrigger assembly



Dec. 22, 1959 Filed March 14. 1957 C. O. HANSON OUTRIGGER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 CLIFFORD O. HANSON ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 c. o. HANsoN OUTRIGGER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14. 1957 INVENTOR CLIFFORD O. HANSON ATTORNEY BYMW Dec. 22, 1959 c. o. HANsoN OUTRIGGER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed March 14. 1957 INVENTOR CLlFFORD O. HANSON ETF-"27.

Byja/W OUTRIGGER ASSEMBLY Clifford 0. Hanson, Tiln, Ohio Application March 14, 1957, Serial No. `646,028

7 Claims. (Cl. 212-145) This invention relates to self-propelled truck cranes and shovel type vehicles. More particularly, it is concerned with providing a unique Outrigger device or stabilizing system for a crane or shovel assembly on a selfpropelled vehicle whereby the tipping point of the crane or shovel assembly or the like under a load will be the same for both the rear and sides of the vehicle.

Heretofore various proposals have been made for stabilizing the crane or shovel assembly on a self-propelled type of vehicle during use of the same. These proposals have not been completely satisfactory for a number of reasons. The principal reason has been that outriggers designed for stabilizing the vehicle against tipping at the rear of the vehicle could not be used for stabilizing the crane assembly against tipping at the sides of the vehicle because of their particular and necessary design and because of the location of the outriggers. Different load characteristics also come into play as far as the crane assembly is concerned when it is swung to the side instead of the rear of the vehicle. To stabilize the crane assembly against tipping at the side of the vehicle, separate and independent outriggers have been resorted to. Depending on the location and design of these outriggers, however, the tipping point of the crane assembly over the side of the Vehicle has been either greater or less than the tipping point of the crane assembly over the rear of the vehicle. This in turn naturally leads to a great deal of haphazard operation and human error in the operation of the crane assembly. This deficiency in present day Outrigger designs for a crane type assembly on a self-propelled vehicle is effectively overcome by the Outrigger device of the instant invention.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a unique Outrigger device for a selfpropelled vehicle which effectively equalizes the tipping point of a crane assembly or the like on the vehicle at both the sides and rear of the vehicle.

It is a further Object of this invention to provide a unique Outrigger system for the crane assembly on a self-propelled type of vehicle, wherein in the case of loads swung over the rear and the sides of the vehicle adjacent the rear portions thereof, the tipping point of the crane assembly is equalized at both the rear and sides of a vehicle, and wherein one Outrigger serves both as a side and rear stabilizer.

It is another object of this invention to provide unique Outrigger devices for equalizing the tipping point of the crane assembly on a self-propelled type of vehicle at both the sides and rear of the vehicle, wherein the outrigger devices are comprised of both telescoping and foldable parts, whereby the Outrigger devices can be folded against the chassis of a vehicle in on out of the way position when they are not in use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a unique Outrigger device for equalizing the tipping point of the crane assembly on a self-propelled type of vehicle at'bothy the sides and rear of the Vehicle wherein the Outrigger device is comprised of a minimum amount of 'ice parts which can be easily arranged in their proper stabilizing position with a minimum amount of eliorts and tools.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing'- an Outrigger assembly for a self-propelled crane vehicle comprising the combination of an Outrigger beam. Means are provided for foldably and pivotally-mounting this beam to the rear extremity of the vehicle chassis. A telescoping arm is also mounted on the beam and the free extremity of this arm is securable to the side of the vehicle chassis when the Outrigger beam is disposed in an extended or operating position. Land anchor means are also secured to the Outrigger beam. This land anchor means is so disposed outwardly of the vehicle chassis and intermediate the rear extremity of the vehicle chassis and the pivot point of the crane boom when the Outrigger beam is in an extended position, that the tipping point of the crane when loaded is the same regardless of whether the crane boom is swung over the rear or the side of the vehicle chassis.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more apparent from a review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunctionwith the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View with parts removed of a typical self-propelled vehicle, such as a truck crane, to which the Outrigger device of the instant invention may be attached;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of the truck crane shown in Fig. 1 equipped with the novel outriggers of the instant invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of an Outrigger device of the instant invention in its extended position and discloses its manner of attachment to the chassis or frame of a self propelled type of vehicle with parts of the latter being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the Outrigger device shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the novel Outrigger device of the instant invention in its extended operating position and discloses its manner of attachment to the chassis or frame of a self-propelled vehicle, with parts of the latter being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the Outrigger shown in Fig. 5 when taken along lines 6-6 thereof;- and Fig. 7 is another sectional view of a portion of the Outrigger shown in Fig. 5 when taken along lines 7-7 thereof.

With further reference to the drawings in which like numerals have been applied toidentical parts, the rear Outrigger assembly 1 with which the instant invention is particularly concerned is advantageously attached to a conventional self-propelled type of crane or shovel trucky 2 as indicated particularly in Fig. l. The invention is particularly concerned with the rear Outrigger assembly The crane truck in turn is provided with the usualchassis 3, front and rear wheels 4, the latter of which.

are usually in tandem, a pivoting crane boom 5 and operators cab 6. Since the Outrigger devices 1 for each side of the vehicle are substantially identical, a descrip--4 tion of one will suffice for both.

Each Outrigger device Or assembly 1 is pivotally anchored to an elongated rear beam Or housing 7'securable in turn to the rear extremity of the chassis 3 of the crane truck 2.V This housing 7 may include a plurality Of vertical plate members 8, `8 and 9 and horizontal side, bottom and top plate members 10 and 11, respectively, and an intermediate bottom 'plate 12 which, when welded or otherwise secured together, form a strong box-like housing member.

In this housing member 7 the several side bottom plates 10 are connected to the intermediate bottom plate 12 by means of the angularly disposed plate 10' as clearly indicated in Fig. 4.

' Housing member 7 may be further reinforced, if desired, by a series of vertical and diagonal brace members 13 and 13 and horizontal plates 14.`

Housing member 7 is secured to the chassis 3 Of the crane truck 2 in a manner well known in the art by having the plates 8 and 8' welded ork otherwise secured toangle brackets 15 and 15' attached in turn to the chassis 3 as indicated particularly in Fig. 6. At the top and intermediate portion Of housing member 7 is a plate 16 provided with openings 16', the function of which will be described hereinafter. If desired, a reinforcing ring element 17 may be welded to the underside of plate 16 adjacent each opening 16'.

The top and bottom plates 11 and 10 are provided wtih wing extensions 18 and 19 adjacent their extremities. These wing extensions are in vertical alignment with each other and are each provided with openings 18 and 19'. These wing extensions may also be reinforced adjacent their openings 18 and 19' by means of the ring elements 20 and 21. Each pair of wings `18 and 19 and reinforced openings 18 and 19' serve as journals or trunnion-like members for the pins 23 used to pivotally anchor the Outrigger assemblies 1 to each end of housing 7.

As indicated particularly in Fig. 7, each Outrigger assembly is generally comprised of a built up box-like beam 25. Beam 25 includes the side plates 26 and 27, bottom and top plates 28 and 29, and intermediate vertical and horizontal plates 30 and 31. The end of beam 25, which is secured tO the housing 7 may be closed by the plate 32. For the purpose of securing the beam 25 to the beam 7 the plates 28 and 29 are each provided with extensions 33 and 34. Openings 33 and 34' are provided in these extensions, with the openings in turn being reinforced by the rings or bushings 35 and 36 secured to the inside surfaces of the respective top and bottom plates. When Openings 18' and 19 in the plates 10 andk 11 of beam 7 are aligned with the Openings 33 and 34' in the plates 29 and 28 of beam 25 and a pin 23 thrust therethrough, the Outrigger is pivotally secured tO the beam 7;

The opening 38 between the plates 26, 27, 29 and 31 in beam 25 advantageously serves as a chamber for receiving the telescoping arm 40 of the Outrigger, to the free end of which is attached an inwardly directed winglike element 41 provided with a bore 42. When the outrigger 1 is 'in its extended position, wing-like element 41 isk securely anchored to the chassis 3 of the crane truck by means of the pin 43 which is removably Ithrust through the bore 42 in wing-like element 41 and the aligned openings 44 and 45 in the bifurcated and reinforced forklike member 46 which is secured to and extends Outwardly from the chassis 3 of the crane truck.

Also secured to the beam 25 adjacent the point where the telescoping arm 40 projects from the beam 25 is a land anchor holder 50, provided with a trunnion-like element 51 to which a conventional land anchor 52 is adjustably'attached by means of the screw pin 53. From the above description it will be noted that durlng non-,use of the Outrigger and during periods of travel 0f the crane truck on the highway from one place to another, each Outrigger may be conveniently stored against the beam 7 Offth'e vehicle. This `is done in the following manner. The pin 43 is removed thereby re,

leasing the telescoping arm 40 from the bifurcated fork member 46. Thereafter the Outrigger 1 is pivoted backwards by means of pins 23 until the Outrigger assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and in full '-lines in Fig. 2. At this time the pins 43 may be thrust through the Opening 42 in arm Y40 which has been partially telescoped into the beam 25 to provide for clearance and then through the openings 16 in the plate 16 on the beam 7. By this arrangement the Outrigger assemblies 1 will be securely locked in their retracted position until one or both ofthe assemblies is tO be put to use.

it will be obvious from the aforesaid description that by the instant invention, a convenient arrangement is provided for setting up and retracting these outriggers located adjacent the rear of the vehicle where the tipping loads imposed on a vehicle of the instant type are the most critical due to the particular location Of thc crane boom thereon and the manner in which it is usually operated. It will be further observed that the land anchors are attached to the outriggers in such a fashion that they are located intermediate the end Of the chassis 3 Of the crane truck 2 and pivot point X of the crane boom 5 and a sufficient distance outwardly from the side of chassis 3 Of the vehicle, whereby the tipping load irnposed by the crane boom under loads, particularly at the rear portions thereof, will be equal both at the rear and at the sides of the vehicle. This means, for example, that for a given size load of say 37,000 lbs. being lifted by the crane, the tipping point Of 37,030 lbs. for the crane truck will be the same, both at the rear and at tbc side of the vehicle. This in turn is also accomplished not only by the particular location of the Outrigger semblies with respect to the chassis 3 of the vehicle, but also because each Outrigger 1 serves as a stabilizer for each side of the vehicle as well as the rear of the vchicle. Because Of this arrangement, haphazard movement and human error in the Operation of the crane boom is minimized.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made` in the instant invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appcnded claims, wherein what is claimed is:

l. An Outrigger assembly for a. self-propelled crane vehicle andV the like comprising the combination of an Outrigger beam, means pivotally and foldably mounting said beam tO the rear extremity of the vehicle chassis. a telescoping arm mounted on said beam and alternately` sccurable tO the side Of said vehicle chassis when said beam is disposedfin an extended position and to said eX- trernity of the vehicle chassis when the beam is retracted. and land anchor means secured to said beam, said land anchor means being so disposed outwardly from the vchicle chassis and intermediate the rear extremity of the vehicle chassis andthe pivot vpoint Of. the crane boom On the vehicle when the beam is disposed in an extended positiony as to make the tipping point of the crane when loaded the same Iwith respect to crane loads imposed on the crane when the crane is swung alternately over the rear Or over the side of a vehicle.

2. An Outrigger assembly for the rear portion of a selfpropelled crane vehicle and the like comprising the combination of an Outrigger beam, means pivotally mounting said beam to the rear extremity of the vehicle chassis. a telescoping arm mounted on the said beam, the free extremity Of said arm being removably securable to a portion of the vehicle chassis and at a point which is closer to the rear extremity of the vehicle chassis than to the front extremity thereof when said arm is extended andV said beam is in an operating position, means removably securing said arm to the rear chassis of said vehicle when said arm is collapsed and said beam is in an inoperative position, and land anchor means secured to said Outrigger beam, said land anchor means being so located on said beam as to be disposed outwardly'from the' vehicle chassisv and intermediate the rear extremity thereof and the pivot point of the crane boom when said beam is swung to the side of the vehicle chassis whereby the tipping point of the crane boom under loads will be the same regardless of whether the crane boom is swung over the rear or the side of the vehicle.

3. A stabilizing assembly for a self-propelled crane vehicle and the like comprising the combination of outrigger means for the said vehicle, means pivotally securing said Outrigger means to the rear extremity of said vehicle, said Outrigger means including a telescoping arm, the free extremity of which is alternately securable to the rear extremity of the vehicle chassis when it is in a collapsed and inoperative position and to an intermediate portion of the chassis when it is in an operative position, and land anchor means secured to the said Outrigger means and so located with respect to the pivot point of the crane boom on the vehicle and the rear extremity of the vehicle chassis as to equalize the tipping point of the crane boom under loads when the crane is swung either over the rear or the side of the vehicle.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3 including common means for securing said telescoping arm to the vehicle chassis in both an extended and collapsed condition.

5. An Outrigger assembly for a self-propelled crane vehicle and the like comprising the combination of a pair of Outrigger beams, means pivotally mounting each of said beams on separate sides and at the rear extremity of the vehicle, a telescoping arm mounted in each of said beams, the free extremity of said arm being removably securable to an intermediate portion of the vehicle chassis and at a point which is closer to the rear than to the front extremity thereof when said arm is extended and said beam is in an operating position, means removably securing said arm to the rear chassis of said vehicle when said arm is collapsed and the beam to which said arm is attached is in an inoperative position, and land anchor means secured to each of said Outrigger beams, said land anchor means being so located on each of said beams as to be disposed outwardly from the vehicle chassis and intermediate the rear extremity thereof and the pivot point of the crane boom, when said beams are swung to the side of and locked to said vehicle chassis, whereby the tipping point of the crane boom under loads will be substantially the same regardless of whether the crane boom is swung over the rear or over either side of the vehicle.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5 including common means for removably securing said telescoping arm to a chassis in either an extended or collapsed condition.

7. A stabilizing .assembly for a self propelled crane vehicle and the like comprising the combination of outrigger means for the vehicle, means pivotally securing said Outrigger means to an extremity of the vehicle chassis, said Outrigger means including a retractable arm one end of which is alternately securable to the said extremity of the vehicle chassis, when it is in a collapsed and inoperative position and to an intermediate point of the chassis when it is in an operative position, and land anchor means secured to said Outrigger means and so located with respect to the pivot point of the crane boom on the vehicle and the said extremity of the vehicle chassis as to equalize the tipping point of the crane boom under loads irrespective of whether the crane boom is swung over the said extremity or a side of the vehicle.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 10,470 Barnhart Apr. 22, 1884 1,432,378 Bailly Oct. 17, 1922 2,167,026 Hatch July 25, 1939 2,797,826 Kuhlenschmidt July 2, 1957 2,804,979 Lassiter Sept. 3, 1957 2,812,868 Crile r-....-.. Nov. 12, 1957 

